The links between Nepal and the UK stretch back more than 200 years when Gurkha soldiers began fighting alongside the British Army.

Since then many Nepalis have settled in Britain, with around 8,000 expatriates believed to be living in Reading at the latest count.

At one point the country’s Royal Family were even regular visitors to the town’s first Nepali restaurant, the Standard Tandoori n Caversham Road, which opened in 1980.

In the late 60s and early 70s students from the Himalayan nation travelled to the UK to enrol at universities across the country.

The 70s onwards: a growing community

Krishna Neupane, chair of the Greater Reading Nepalese Community Association (GRNCA) explained how this began.

He said: “The UK provided support to Nepal in many ways, particularly by setting up two agricultural research centres: one in the West Region of Nepal in 1968 and another in the East Region of Nepal in 1972.

“To enhance research capacities in the centres the UK Government trained manpower in UK universities, one of them was the University of Reading .

“Many scholars got chances to study in the University of Reading by the 70s and beyond. Similarly, the Gurkhas in the British Army entered the UK to do on-the-job training and act as a peace keeping force.”

Later, as civil unrest began, asylum seekers left their homes and many students did not feel safe going back to their families.

It was at this time that Omkar Adhikari, 45, of Gosbrook Road, Caversham, came to the UK.

"I was in Didcot from 1996. I came here as a student at Huron University in London," he explained.

"I’ve been living in Reading since 2001. Basically I like Reading and I couldn’t go back straight away because of the civil war."

The civil war in Nepal was fought between Communist revolutionaries and the Kingdom of Nepal from 1996 to 2006. The Nepali Ministry of Peace reports that 17,800 people were killed and 1,300 went missing.

The 00s: the Ghurka Justice Campaign

In 2002 the British Government announced the Highly Skilled Migrants Scheme and some Nepali came to Reading through this.

Then, in 2004, government policy allowed Ghurkas who had served in the British Army after 1997 to settle in the UK. The GRNCA estimates that by 2008, there were more than 8,000 Nepalis in Reading.

Mr Neupane continued: "Since 2001 the Nepalis in Reading organised in a loose group, they started functioning and sharing their feelings, celebrating their festivals and cultures.

"Later most of the Nepali group members including Gurkha and their families, spouses registered to a local charity organisation, the GRNCA registered to charity commission on April 8, 2008."

Joanna Lumley arrives at Kathmandu airport in 2009 and is mobbed by Gurkha families and media (Image: Daily Mirror)

In 2009, the Ghurka Justice Campaign managed to pressure the Government to allow all Ghurkas to settle in the UK.

As a result of the campaign, it was agreed that all Ghurkas who were in the British Army before 1997, with at least four years of service, would be granted the right to migrate here.

Sheila Limbu, Ghurka services manager at the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA), said: "Joanna Lumley was a leading figure in the campaign.

"Her father served in the 6th Ghurka Rifles in India, which is where she grew up.

"She really led the campaign and appealed for fairness for all Ghurka veterans."

The Nepalese community today

Asked whether he feels comfortable living among other Nepalis in Reading, Mr Adhikari said: "It’s a little nice bonus for us. We can celebrate our festivals and religious things.

"We are following all the English rules and we are trying to exist in this country. And we are learning English too.

"It’s great that some people want to take the time to help us. We have English volunteers who help us free of charge.

"I still go back to Nepal every two years because my parents and grandparents are still there."

The GRNCA aims to make meaningful integrations to wider Reading Society by enhancing the employment skills and welfare of members.